Objective To evaluate the effects of vitamin C and arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) on bladder cancer T-24 cells and its mechanism.

Methods T-24 cells cultured in vitro were divided into 6 groups randomly, First,the control group was given no especial treatment.Second,the different concentrations of As₂O₃ group were treated with As₂O₃ at the concentration of 0.4, 4, 40μg/ml. Third, the vitamin C group was treated with vitamin C of 400μg/ml, the combined group was treated with vitamin C of 400μg/ml and 0.4μg/ml As₂O₃. The cell proliferation ability was assayed with cell growth curve. The cell cycle and apoptosis ratio of T-24 cells were analyzed with FCM. The expressions of caspase-3 and survivin mRNA of T-24 cells were detected by RT-PCR, while expressions of caspase-3 and survivin proteins were detected by Western blot.

Results The combined group, vitamin C group (400μg/ml), As₂O₃ group (4μg/ml) and As₂O₃3 group (40μg/ml) significantly inhibited the growth of T-24 cell lines. The cells major stagnation was stayed in the G0/G1 in the combined group, while apoptosis rate was significantly higher than the other groups. The expression of caspase-3 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated in vitamin C group (400μg/ml) and the combined group, while down-regulated the expression of survivin mRNA and protein.

Conclusion Vitamin C joint As₂O₃ can inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer T-24 cells and promote cell apoptosis. The mechanism might be related to elevate the expression of caspase-3 mRNA and protein, reduce the expression of survivin mRNA and protein.